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First Blues: Rags, Ballads and Harmonium Songs

Allen Ginsberg
First Blues: Rags, Ballads and Harmonium Songs

Legendary Beat poet Allen Ginsberg explores the fusion of poetry and music in this rare 1970s recording. Called a "venerated bard of resistance" Ginsberg sought "how the raw mind actually works" through poetry. This collection of fun ditties spouts against capitalism, among other things, and is an amusing and enjoyable listen. Ginsberg accompanies himself with a small hand-pumped harmonium from India, occasionally adding his own guttural rhythms reminiscent of Dadaist sound-poetry (see for example "Put Down Your Cigarette Rag" and "Prayer Blues"), while other songs, such as "Bus Ride Ballad Road to Suva", echo folk ballads from yesteryear. Ginsberg prefaces each song himself. Liner notes include an introduction from Ginsberg.

Track Listing

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101
Allen Ginsberg
10:02
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102
Allen Ginsberg
06:52
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103
Allen Ginsberg
04:59
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104
Allen Ginsberg
03:42
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201
Allen Ginsberg
07:03
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202
Allen Ginsberg
04:16
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203
Allen Ginsberg
10:25
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204
Allen Ginsberg
04:30